One on One with The Sparkle Effect

The Sparkle Effect is a national nonprofit that generates spirit teams that bring together students with and without disabilities. Since 2009, The Sparkle Effect has generated over 225 inclusive teams in 31 states, directly involving over 13,000 students. In addition to raising school spirit, the teams cultivate an environment of courage, compassion, and connection where all students learn and grow together. Varsity Spirit is proud to be a part of this movement that creates an inclusive culture for all.

We took a minute to sit down with the founder of the Sparkle Effect. Sarah Cronk was only 15 years old when she brought the idea to life. See what she has to say about its importance and the difference it’s made in so many lives.

Why were you inspired to start the Sparkle Effect?
My older brother Charlie has disabilities, so inclusion has always been important to me. When Charlie and I were in high school, it became clear that academic inclusion wasn’t enough to open doors for him socially. After all, we don’t necessarily make our friends based on who we sit by in science class. It’s those we share interests with – the people we meet through sports, clubs and activities, that form our social circle.

When I became a cheerleader, I saw how adaptive cheer can be and what a great opportunity it presented to put a spotlight inclusion. That led me to start the nation’s first inclusive cheer team – the Pleasant Valley High School Spartan Sparkles in Bettendorf, IA.

Shortly after the Sparkles’ debut, demand for the team grew so quickly that we needed to create a waitlist. When I learned that many of the students who wanted to join were actually outside our school district, I realized we needed to empower other schools to create more teams. That’s how The Sparkle Effect was born!

Why is it important for schools to have the Sparkle Effect?
So many reasons! There are more than 5 million students with disabilities in American public schools. Despite that huge (and growing) number, most school sports and activities fail to accommodate these students. The Sparkle Effect is an easy first step in the right direction, and the creation of an inclusive team actually has a positive impact on the entire school and community. That’s why we’re called “The Sparkle Effect.” It’s a play off the idea of a ripple effect. Over time, schools that have Sparkle Effect teams more readily embrace inclusion as a core value. Other athletic teams and school clubs begin to actively invite students with disabilities to join. People begin to understand that inclusion is a mindset that involves celebrating what makes each of us unique. That diversity addresses the mix, but inclusion makes the mix matter.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from the Sparkle Effect?
It sounds cheesy, but a huge lesson I’ve learned is that you never know what a simple act of kindness can ultimately achieve. When my brother Charlie was in high school, an upperclassman on the swim team named Jared invited Charlie to join the swimmers at lunch. That act of kindness eventually led Charlie to join the swim team. Jared’s actions played a huge role in inspiring me to use my role as a cheerleader to make a difference, ultimately leading me to start The Sparkle Effect. When Jared asked Charlie to lunch, he had no idea what he was setting into motion. I think about that daily and use it as a powerful reminder to always lean into kindness and empathy.

What keeps you motivated to make it a great organization?
The Sparkle Effect is still one of the only organizations in the country that’s tangibly supporting inclusive athletic programming in schools nationwide. It’s so cool to me that cheerleaders and dancers are at the forefront of the social inclusion movement, and I love being able to facilitate their successes. It’s also so important to me to continue to grow and reach more students, and to make sure that every team we create is built for longevity. After all, the longer a team exists, the bigger the ripple effect.

What are your upcoming Sparkle Effect goals?
Right now, we’re looking at how we can reimagine our programming so that students who may not have a traditional cheer or dance background can get involved. We’ve always said that our teams are about connection over perfection – so we’re really trying to put school spirit at the center of everything we do. It’s this idea that everyone needs a cheerleader and anyone can be a cheerleader. Sparkle Effect 2.0 will look similar to an old school pep club, but with a contemporary twist. Ultimately, it will be about empowering students to take a more active role in creating a school-wide culture of inclusion.

Recently, Varsity Spirit celebrated 10 years of partnership with The Sparkle Effect. We are thankful for people like Sarah who think outside the box to create something incredible and we are proud to partner with The Sparkle Effect.

Interested in bringing The Sparkle Effect to your school? Visit thesparkleeffect.org for more information today![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]